Improved psosess foe seasoning and preserving wood



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IMPROVED PBOGEISS FOR SEA SONING AND PRESERVING W091).

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCEEJ.

Be it known that I, SIGISMUND BEER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have discovered a new Process for Seasoning and Preserving Wood; and I hereby. declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

\Vood freshly cut is full of sap, composed of hygroscopic and very perishable organic substances; IIcretofore, the idea has been, in seasoning and preserving wood, to wash out these substances, or to chemically combine, and convert them into more durable compounds. Washing by steam only removes matter having great fifiinity forwator, and soluble therein, leaving those that coagulate by the action of steam to fill the pores and step further action. The chemical conversion-of thesoisub'stances is commonly produced by metallic salts, which combine with them,'forming insoluble compounds of more durability. Iint this action is necessarily limited to the exterior, as deep impregnation is stopped by the newlyforined products. Moreover, the cost is high, and tho salts more or less injuriously afi 'eet the wood-substance. i I

My discovery consists in simply treating the wood with a boiling solution of borax -in water, which easily and effectually dissolves and removes all those perishable substances, without injuriously afi'ectipg the wood. fibre, which, on the contrary, becomes harder, impregnable to water, vermin-proof, perfectly indifl'ercntto the. moisture or dryness of the atmosphere, and almost ineombustible. 3

The process and operation are as follows: In a. tank, o'f wood or iron, I prepare a saturated or nearly saturated solution-of borax in water, suflicient to cover the wood. I then raise the temperature, by steam or otherwise,- to the boiling-point, and keep it there from two to twelve hours, according to the porosity and thickness of the wood. I then repeat this operation in a freshly-col eentratod solution of borax'in water, but immersing the wood only half as long as before. The wood is then taken out, and, as soon as day, it is ready for use, if its hardness and discolor are not objectionable, or it may be several times washed in boiling water, which will extract theabsorbed borax in connection with the colored matter, and restore its former color and appearance, more or less, at will. p

It is notneccssary to use a very strong solution, but I prefer it on account of the facility for reusing it.

Simple as my process is, it may be advantageously altered in some cases. When thicklumbers areto be treated it is well to steam them thoroughly in the ordinary way, andplaee them in the tank while still warm and wet. The denser and heavier liquid of bornx solution will more quickly penetrate the pores of the wood, and shorten the operation considerably.

If it be desirable to impregnate the wood with tar, coal-oil, or like substances, they are easily applied, after the wood has been thoroughly dried.

If it be desirable to make the wood perfectly-water-tiglm, shellac, or other gum, or-resin, or substance soluble in-a boiling solution of Borax, and insoluble, after drying, in cold water, may be added to the liquid of the second operation;

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Seasoning,- preserring; and purifying wood,-by extracting its perishable matters, without injuring the woodsubstance, and associating therewith a, durable and antiseptic substance, which makes it harder, water-proof, i'ndifl'ereut to atmospheric changes, andless combustible, by the process above described, in which borax or some other laorate or boracic acid, or a like compound, isemployed, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

SIGISMUND BEER.

Witnesses: I

S. J. Gonoos, G. H. Com-ms. 

